Voting-machine.



F. MOOLINTOGK- VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGHM, 1911.

1, 1 1 7,074, Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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P. MQGLINTOGK. VOTING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1911.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK MGOLIN'IOGK, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLENN VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, A CORPORATION.

VOTING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK MOCLINTOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Grand Junction, in the countyof Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

'My invention relates to improvements 1n voting machines and is especially adapted to the type of voting machines having vote indicators just equaling the number of candidates to be elected in which the voting operation consists in moving one or more of the indicators into voting relation to selected candidates and then imparting a mechanical impulse effected through the movement of a turnstile lever in one direction as the voter enters the voting compartment, and in the reverse direction as he leaves the said compartment, whereby the selected votes are registered; and the present improvement is especially adapted to the voting machines patented by William Glenn, August 14th, 1906, No. 828816 and June 10th, 1910, No. 957326.

The object of my improvement is to provide simple mechanism whereby a voter may readily and secretly record a vote or votes for candidates not regularly nominated, such votes being automatically checked if properly cast by the proper vote indicators thus preventing any chance for fraudulent voting. I attain this object by means of the mechanism shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. F igrt is a plan view'showing the preferred arrangement of the voting machine wherein the turnstile levers must be operated by the voter when entering and leaving the voting compartment at the front of the machine. Fig. 5 is an end view of the voting machine showing more clearly the operation of the turnstile locking levers.

In each of the views the parts are shown in the posit-ions assumed when a voter is within the voting compartment in front of the, machine.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

The mechanism actuates a continuous web of paper Whereon the voter may write the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1911.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 643,930.

name or names of persons not regularly nominated, thro-ugh suitable openings 1 in a panel to the right of the regular ballot frame of the machine, which may be labeled Independent as shown in Fig. 1. These openings are preferably located to correspond with the ofiice rows of the regular ballot frame. This independent panel is normally closed by a door 5, being retained closed against accidental or unauthorized opening by a latch 6. This latch can only be released and the door opened, by some one of the vote indicators 7 being moved from the initial position in the No vote column at the extreme left of the machine (not shown in the drawings). When an indicator is moved to the position shown, its perforating arm 8 engages the rod 9 which extends the entire width vertically of the ballot frame, and is secured at each end to pivoted arms 10. The indicator thus moves the arm 10 against the latch lever 11, which is thereby moved to the right tothe position shown. This releases the latch 6 from its normal engagement with the catch 12 on the door allowing it to be opened either by the hand of the voter or automatically by suitable spring hinges. When the voter releases the indicator the latch lever will be returned to its normal position so as to again engage the catch 12 when the door is again closed.

The web of paper 2 1 is supplied from a stock roll 13 mounted on a shaft 14c and is fed around rollers 15, 16, 17 and 18 and has its end secured to the take up drum 19. A vertical plate 20 is placed back of the paper where it passes behind the openings for names of candidates, to provide a good surface for writing. A vertical slotted strip 21 is provided just back of the paper such. slots running horizontally and being spaced to correspond with the perforating arm 8 so that when the ballot frame 22 is moved bodily in and out in the manner disclosed in the patents referred to the point of said perforating arm will pass through and perforate the paper, such perforation serving to check the name or names written directly in line there-with on the paper.

The required advance movement of the web of paper after each vote recorded thereon, in order to conceal the name written thereon and provide a fresh surface of paper for the next voter is effected in a simple and effective manner entirely by the the door is opened the disk alone will be rotated to the left, the feed-drum remaining stationary. The subsequent closing of the door will rotate the disk in the reverse direction and the pawl 23 being in engagement with a ratchet tooth will cause the feed-drum to rotate in the direction to move the paper from right to left where exposed, thereby carrying the name or names written thereon out of sight. r

In order that the voter, either through carelessness or by design, cannot leave the door .5 open, thereby leaving the names exposed .to view of the next voter, "1 provide a simple locking device to the turnstile lever 30 whicheifectually prevents the voter from leaving the machine until the door'has been closed and latched. This mechanism consists of a bolt 31 with its lower end resting upon or connected to the hooked lever 32 which retains the turnstile lever in the position shown while the voter is preparing his ballot. This hooked lever may be freely raised while the door is closed, the notch 33 then being in position directly above the upper end of the bolt 31. At every other position of the door the upper end of this bolt is covered and prevented from being raised by the connecting rod 27 thereby absolutely preventing the lifting of the retaining hook 32 to release the turnstile lever.

As it is desirable that the regular movement of the feed drum be substantially uniform at each operation of the mechanism a limiting stop 34 is provided which serves to limit the free movement of the disk carrying the pawl. Suitable spring hinges or other equivalent means may be used to insure the opening of the door to its limit each time.

lVhat I claim asmy invention, is

1. In a voting machine, the combination of a ballot frame, a series of vote indicators adapted to be moved individually along oflice rows to voting position thereon, means for checking votes, a panel for independent voting, a door for closing said panel when not inuse, a latch for normally retaining said door in a closed position which latch can only be released by means of a vote indicator when placed in the proper position for checking recorded votes, means for retaining a strip of paper at a position to receive and check independent votes, and means for advancing said paper strip one step each time a vote is recorded thereon.

2. In a voting machine, the combination of ballot frame, a series of vote indicators adapted to be moved individually to voting position thereon, means for checking votes, a panel for independent voting, ardoor for closing said panel when not in use, a strip of paper so located as to receive written names of candidates not on the regular ballot, together with indication check marks or perforations, and means actuatedby the opening and closing of the door whereby the record paper is advanced positively the required distance after each independent vote is recorded.

In a voting machine, the combination of a ballot frame, a series of vote indicators adapted to be moved individually along oiiice rows to voting position thereon, means for checking votes, a panel for independent voting, a doorfor closing said p anel ,when not in use, a latch for normally retaining said door in a closed position, which la tch can only be released by means vof a vote indicator when placed in the proper position for checkin recorded votes, means for retaining a strip of paper at a position to receive and check independent votes, a ,feed paper drum adapted by its rotation to move the record paper, and a ratchet and pawl so connected to the door that the opening and closing of the door will advance ithe record paper the required distance.

4. In a votingmachine, thecombinationof a ballot frame, a turnstile lever, a series of vote indicators adapted to be moved individually along oflice rows to voting position thereon, means for checking votes, ,a panel for independent voting, a door for ,closing said panehmeans actuated by the opening and closing of said door wherebytthe record strip of paper will be positively advanced one step the required distance," and means for locking'the turnstile leverof thegvoting machine from movement while the door is open.

' Signed at Cedar Rapids in the-county 10f Linn and State of Iowa this tenth day-of August A. D. 1911.

FRANK MQCLINTOGK. Witnesses:

WALTER T. HAMBRIGHT, PAUL N. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of EEfatents,

Washington, I). G. 

